59th International AES Conference on Sound Reinforcement

The first AES International Conference to focus on Sound Reinforcement in more than 25 years takes place from July 15-17, 2015, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The program will include tutorials, papers and workshops covering topics of practical approaches to system design; case study analysis; and the measurement, optimization, installation, and testing of sound systems.

Attendees and participants will include sound system designers, users and installers; speech reinforcement and public address engineers; venue and touring systems technical staff and operators; sound system installation, testing and verification engineers; sound systems equipment designers and manufacturers; audio network systems specialists and users; acousticians and theater consultants; and students in associated areas such as theater, music, technology, audio engineering and electro-acoustics.

The AES has announced Meyer Sound’s Director of System Optimization, Bob McCarthy, as the keynote speaker for the 59th International AES Conference. Known as an international authority on sound system design and optimization, McCarthy is also an educator and published author. His keynote speech, "Sound Systems Tuning and Optimization Made Simple and Affordable," will take place on the first day of the Conference, Wednesday, July 15, at 2 p.m..

McCarthy has been a pivotal figure in the development of all three generations of Meyer’s Source Independent Measurement system (SIM) and a leading educator in sound system measurement and tuning. McCarthy's book, Sound Systems: Design and Optimization (Focal Press), is considered a definitive work in the field. McCarthy has designed countless systems around the world of all scales and types, and has optimized systems for many of the most prestigious designers, including more than 10 Cirque du Soleil productions and seven productions of Wicked.

"Bob McCarthy's keynote presentation should not be missed by anyone who strives for excellence in live sound reinforcement," says Professor Wieslaw Woszczyk of McGill University, co-chair of the 59th AES Conference.

An all-star lineup of presenters is coming from the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and will offer a variety of perspectives on the most current information on Sound Reinforcement technology and practice, including tutorials, workshops, demonstrations and paper presentations.

On July 16 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. EDT, Fraunhofer IDMT will present “Spatial Sound Reinforcement: Hands on!” High-quality acoustics that enhance performances and support localization of audio sources are a key factor for classical concerts, operas or theater performances. Sound reinforcement systems designed for such events should aim not only to achieve an excellent sound amplification, but also to recreate the most similar spatial and acoustical impression. Under this premise, Fraunhofer IDMT has developed its “SpatialSound Wave” 3-D audio system based on the company's 10 years of experience collaborating with different opera festivals, and the long time development of Wave Field Synthesis.

Richard King of McGill University, workshops co-chair for the conference, states, “The latest addition to this jam-packed program is an interactive 3-D experience, for which attendees are encouraged to bring in their own multi-track files for a truly unique ‘spatial mixing’ session.”

The Schulich Music Multimedia Room (or MMR) Research facility at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, where workshops will be held during the 59th AES International Conference on Sound Reinforcement.

Flex Acoustics is co-hosting another program, "Low-Frequency Control Workshop", on July 16, from 12 noon until 1:15 p.m. in the Schulich School of Music’s Music Multimedia Room (MMR). Using Flex Acoustics Inflatable Membrane Low-Frequency Absorbers, Niels Werner Adelman-Larsen of Flex Acoustics will demonstrate the effectiveness of passive acoustic absorption at low frequencies using a number of 7-meter-long inflatable tubes, some installed along the walls, but some “…installed where wall and ceiling meet since we get an enormous LF pressure build up there," says Niels.

Research shows that too much low-frequency reverberation is the primary source of an unpleasant sonic experience perceived by musicians as well as audiences during amplified music concerts. Flex Acoustics offers a new, patented technology of inflated, ultra-thin plastic membranes that promise to solve this challenge of low-frequency control and are suitable for multipurpose halls that need to adjust their acoustics at the push of a button.

The tubes were recently employed to control the acoustics for eight Kraftwerk concerts in the Berlin Neue National Galleria and at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest held in B&W Hallerne, a former industrial complex in Copenhagen, Denmark.

An accompanying paper presentation will cover the details of "New Technologies for Passive Low-Frequency Absorption and Case Studies in Sound Reinforcement Applications."

“We have outstanding support for the 59th AES International Conference from manufacturers across the professional sound business around the world," says George Massenburg, of the 59th AES International Conference Organizing Committee. "Their enthusiasm speaks to how timely it is to gather the forces in technology and methodology in an international context such as this,“